Source: Al Jazeera
A prominent think-tank in Washington, DC recently hosted a conference on women's rights and democracy in the Middle East and North Africa. It was a worthy topic by all means.
Source: The News
The passage of a draft law seeking to provide 30 percent women participation in all political parties was stalled recently by a motion for reconsideration made by Nimba County Senator Thomas Grupee.
Senator Grupee's motion for reconsideration angered several women leaders who have expressed disappointment in the senator's action.
Source: Government of Botswana
Botswana remains one of the lowest in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region in representation of women in politics.
Assistant Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Ms Botlogile Tshireletso said this recently at the commemoration of women's day and SADC gender monitor launch....
Source: Cosatu
The Congress of South African Trade Unions in the North West province is highly disturbed by the increase in rape, killings and all forms of gender-based violence that is terrorising our community.
COSATU has noted that it has now become a daily activity that a person is raped, killed or both in this country and our province seems to be taking a lead in these kinds of crimes and social ills.
Source: The Star
Many schoolgirls in Naivasha subcounty are likely to engage in prostitution due to economic hardships, subcounty education officer Mbugua Kabaki has said.
He said this is due to lack of basic needs at home and inadequate facilities for students in school. Speaking during an education stakeholders meeting held in Naivasha town, Kabaki said poverty is a major problem for most families in Naivasha. He said poverty has affected performance in schools as most of the students got involved in activities that divert their attention from their studies.
Kabaki said most of the girls in day schools get lifts from truck drivers who abuse them sexually. "Some schools are far from the students' homes and some truck drivers take advantage of that ," he said.
Source: The New Dawn
Sen. Thomas Grupee of Nimba County has reiterated his opposition to the bill seeking 30 percent allotment for women's participation in politics, saying it's in total violation of the Constitution of Liberia.
Sen. Grupee said the Constitution of Liberia strongly condemns discrimination among the citizens, warning that if such proposition were to be legislated, it will hunt members of the 53rd Legislature.
Source: The Star
Members of a women group in Kitui West subcounty have protested against plans to grab their two-acre plot at Kabati trading centre. The women said land brokers are targeting the land, which they have owned for 25 years.
Source: Tanzania Daily News
Women are crusaders when it comes to poverty alleviation, and this is evident in their income generating groups and their struggle to free themselves from depending on their husbands.
Some of these groups are registered and are thus eligible for loans from financial institutions.
However, due to bureaucracy and unfriendly conditions given by the lenders, many women find it easier to organize themselves in informal groups, based on mutual trust.
Source: Angola Press
The countries of the Portuguese Speaking Community (CPLP) are well advanced in terms of women protection policies, but more should be done to ensure equality in other countries, particularly in those of the Arab world.
Source: Tanzania Daily News
Moshi — THE Tanzania Women Research Foundation (TAWREF) has called on Constituent Assembly (CA) members to drum up support for, and ultimately endorse women rights in the new constitution.
Source: The Star
The 47 county women's representatives have opposed a move to amend the constitution to scrap their positions. The MPs Cecilia Ng'etich (Bomet), Florence Waingah (Busia), Wanjiku Muhia (Nyandarua), Annah Nyokabi (Kiambu) and Mary Seneta (Kajiado) have urged the executive to deal end corruption in the national and county governmens in form of shoddy deals in the tendering of national projects.
Source: Aswat Masriya
MINYA, March 17 (Aswat Masriya) A group of young Egyptians launched a campaign against sexual harassment in the city of Minya, South of Cairo, on Monday to mark the national day for women.
Source: Voice Of America
Pretoria — Judge Thokozile Masipa is a central figure in Oscar Pistorius' murder trial. She talks softly, but carries a big stick.
Source: The Star
KISUMU women's representative Rose Nyamunga has said the county will establish a revolving fund to eradicate poverty and promote the girls' education.
Source: The Namibian
THE Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare (MGECW) will embark on a sensitisation programme against gender-based violence next month, including the observance of 365 days of activism.
Source: Heritage
Ahead of the holding of a special senatorial mid-term election throughout the country, women of Liberia are not taking the process as a joke, despite challenges and intimidation from some of their male counterparts.
Source: East African Business Week
Nairobi — Kenya's Capital Markets Authority (CMA) is reviewing the Code of Corporate Governance that will among other things make sure women representation on boards of public listed companies is legalised.
Source: This Day Live
In a manner that is quite unprecedented, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has intensified its drive to boost the economic empowerment of women in a move aimed at enabling financial inclusion, poverty reduction and deepening of the nation's capital market.
Source: The New York Times
When Zineb lost her father at the age of 15, her grief was compounded when she learned that she had to share his inheritance with an older half-brother unknown to her or her mother and sister.
"It felt unfair to split it with him," said Zineb, 29, a teacher in Rabat who asked that her full name not be used because as a political activist she is concerned about her safety. "Somebody was parachuted into your life and we didn't know him and after all, my mom worked for half of all of that money."
Source: Daily News Egypt
Each year, governments, journalists, development experts and others look forward to the United Nations Development Programme's Human Development Report. The report includes a ranking of countries based on life expectancy, literacy, quality of life and so on. Once it is released, governments and citizens of countries with high rankings immediately trumpet their achievements. Those with lower rankings, such as the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which was last in 2013 in Africa, come in for criticism.